There are many different types of cat fences that you can buy to help make your yard a safe and secure space for your kitty.
You want something that’ll stop them from escaping, especially if it’s an ‘indoor’ breed with tons of curiosity and not a lot of awareness of the dangers the wider world can present.
You might also want one that stops other animals from getting into your yard – particularly if you have neighbors with territorial cats that don’t get along with your pets.
A cat roller fence is a great option, particularly if you want something effective and discreet while still enjoying the look of your yard. Let me explain why.
What is a Cat Roller Fence?
A cat roller fence uses a simple roller design to stop your cat from escaping and to prevent other animals from getting back into your yard.
It’s really simple—by using a roller that has the freedom to spin and putting that at the top of your fence, your cat will not be able to get any real purchase and will fall back to the ground every time they try to grab onto it.
They can climb up the fence, but when those paws contact the roller at the top, it spins, your cat loses their footing, and their attempt fails. Eventually, they’ll just get bored of trying.
At least, that’s the theory of how they work. Depending on their design, some cat roller fence options are better than others.
You add the roller to your existing fence, attaching it to either the panels or the posts, depending on your fence’s style. A good cat roller fence is easily adaptable, and you can easily pick up a system that fits your entire yard’s perimeter.
Pros and Cons of a Cat Roller Fence
Cat roller fences have several pros and cons. They aren’t perfect and won’t be the best cat fence for every type of yard. But a lot of people prefer them to alternatives.
Pros:
Effective – works well without harming your cat
Customizable positioning to meet your needs
Discreet – won’t be an eyesore
Cons:
It can be more expensive than the alternatives
It won’t work with certain fence types
The best thing about cat roller fences is that, in most situations, they’re highly effective. Cats struggle when faced with a roller and cannot work out how to get past them in most cases.
The only difference is if there are higher points in your yard that your cat could use as a jump-off point, such as a tree. If your cat can treat somewhere near your fence as a launch pad, then they may be able to clear the rollers – at which point, the roller becomes a problem because your cat might struggle to get back into your yard.
It’ll depend on where you position the roller, which leads to another benefit—you typically have the flexibility to decide on the position depending on whether you want to keep only the cat in or keep other animals out, too.
Place the roller directly on top of the fence if you want a two-way barrier. But if you just want to stop your cat from escaping, you can place it at an angle on the inside edge of your fence so that it slightly overhangs the yard.
That way, your cat could get back in if they did escape, but they’ll find it even harder to get out.
And cat roller fences are good if you want a discreet option – they’re much smaller than some other cat fence alternatives, and in time, you’ll not even notice them – they’ll just blend into the existing fence for you.
The look of your yard isn’t as important as keeping your cat safe. Still, when you have an option such as a cat roller fence that combines efficacy and discretion, it’s worth considering.
Cat rollers can be more expensive than less attractive options, and they won’t work if you have any curved fence panels or other intricate designs.
However, a cat roller fence is often one of the best options for a regular fence using straight panels.
Best Cat Roller Fence
The Oscillot is one of the best options for a cat roller fence, and there are two main reasons for that.
The first is in the design. Rather than using a cylindrical roller, it uses a paddle design. This is even more effective because, with a cylinder, a cat might be able to push it down into the central axle and pin it, stopping it from moving for long enough to leap over it.
That’s impossible with paddles – as soon as the kitty applies any pressure, the paddle will shift. The cat will lose their grip on it, meaning they’ll fall to the ground or, if still clinging onto the fence, re-think their decision to try and climb it.
The other key benefit is just the quality of the product. Every component, even the smallest part, is designed with durability in mind. The system comes with a three-year manufacturer warranty but should last significantly longer.
It’s been tested to work in harsh weather conditions and won’t break or stop working even when faced with snow or dust. So, you know that once it’s installed, it’ll help keep your yard secure for the long term.
It’s also easy to install yourself. You buy the right length of kit for your yard, and then everything is easy to set up alone. If you need help, plenty of support is available online or from the company directly if you need to contact them.
What’s also a nice feature – though not essential – is the range of colors that the rollers come in. You’ll be able to find one that’s a close match to your existing fence, meaning it blends into your existing border even more.
In Summary
A cat roller fence won’t be ideal for every home, but it is worth considering for many cat owners with a fairly standard yard with straight fence panels as the border.
Sure, there are cheaper DIY solutions available. But if you want an effective system that’ll keep your cat safe, has been stress-tested for extreme weather, and doesn’t impact the visual appeal of your outdoor space, the Oscillot, in particular, is a great choice.
